Off to that fantastic new doc of mine!

[Guest guest]

Hi everyone!

I know I've been a little MIA lately, but between asthma flares/hospital

stays, sinus infections and appointments with a new doctor, I've just been

incredibly busy.

I'm still going to be seeing my doctor in Boston, but on a more " supervisory

basis. I found a doctor much more local to me that has done so much in

just a few short months.

I started seeing this new doctor in January, just hoping to get tested for

food allergies. I went over my history with his nurse and her eyebrows kept

going higher and higher.... next thing I know she dragged the main doctor

into the room and he got " excited " . He said that he literally WAITS to find

patients like me. The ones that have been through the wringer and are

dependant on steroids, etc.

In 20 minutes, I went from being completely discouraged and depressed about

my asthma to having hope and literally crying on this doctor's shoulder. He

HUGGED ME! After reviewing my history, he shook his head and said " this is

ridiculous that you've hit this stage and don't even have the tools you need

at home. " That day, I came home with oxygen, a pulse oximeter and a

completely portable nebulizer that I can carry anywhere. It runs on a

rechargeable battery pack. The best part? He got my insurance company to

pay for it ALL!!!! The oximeter is about the size of a box of tic tacs! I

still can't believe all he did in my FIRST VISIT!

Well, after tons and tons of testing... he discovered that not only do I

have a lot more allergies than I was aware of, but that I also have an

immune deficiency. I had some more tests done last week to determine

exactly why my immune system isn't working the way it should, and hopefully

I should receive some answers on that today. He did say that while my

asthma is definitely a factor, my immune system is why I seem to end up with

a URI or pneumonia almost repeatedly, asthma flare or not. About a month

ago, I went to see him for a follow up visit... he'd given me two vaccines,

and wanted to test to see how my immune system responded to them. Well, I

wasn't feeling tip top that day, but breathing fine, just had a stuffy nose.

.. He wanted sinus and chest X-Rays done anyway and when I went to turn for

the side view of my chest I passed out cold on the floor. Doc put me on

oxygen right away and did my bloodwork... (He has X-ray, an on site lab and

also a clinic where he does gamma globulin infusions) I guess my white cell

count was off the charts high considering that I'm on steroids. He admitted

me to the hospital because he said I was on the brink of pneumonia and had a

nasty sinus infection.

Also, I've definitely been approved for Xolair, I find out today if my

hampster testing was negative (pretty sure it was, I didn't see a reaction,

but rast tests might show something) and see when the doc is able to start

me on the Xolair injections.

We also have to discuss the possibility that I may need infusions to boost

my immune system, and he said that he wants to start me on allergy

immunotherapy, which NO OTHER DOC has EVER been willing to do because I

ALWAYS seem to have a reaction. So we'll discuss that today as well. He

said that most patients have to wait 15 minutes after the allergy injections

but because of my past... I have to wait for an hour. This is based on my

mom's memory of having to rush me to the doctor at age 14 because I started

to go into shock after having received allergy shots an hour before.

So, hopefully I'll be back later today with lots of new information to share

with everyone! Breathe easy, and wish me luck... although maybe I don't

need luck. Seems like this doctor is my guardian angel!